Table of Contents

Introduction

Hey guys!

This is my first guide so I might make some mistakes.
Swain is one of my favourite champions in the game. Because he's not like the other casters.
So I feel much more special than the others
People say he's UP but they don't know how to play him properly.
Good examples are Eve, Urgot,Renekton, Garen.
They were also UP but ppl Realised they were wrong!!
He's very Fun to play and he has the best DANCE in the game.
But not easy to Master.
That's why I chose the Title: A calculated Risk.

********Warning*******
Very looong guide.

*Listen this while you read this guide and if you play Swain*

*CREDITS goes to no0g who made this amazing song!!!*
EDIT: Tobuscus song this, Didn't know it =p.

Patch Notes

Decrepify: Ability power ratio increased to 0.9 from 0.75.
Fixed a bug where it would slow through Highlander or Ragnarok.
Fixed a bug where the damage portion sometimes would not stop after breaking the leash.

Torment: Base damage increased to 75/115/155/195/235 from 72/110/148/186/224.
Ability power ratio increased to 0.8 from 0.6.

Abilities

(Active): Swain sends his raven to cripple an enemy. Over the next 3 seconds, the target takes damage over time and is slowed. If enemies walk out of the tether, the effect ends immediately.
Cooldown: 8 seconds
Range: 550

The Freaking laser bird. It's a nice slow.Damage is not that bad. But the sad part is that people can just walk away from it. And that's why I max this atlast. I can live with 20% Slow.
I rather maxing Nevermove first.

*Tip: You can use this to land your nevermove better, ( From the champ Spotlight.
Or use it if you want to chase some1 ( yes a baby knows this already =p)

An Aoe Root. Not a stun, A root. It's still amazing. You can use it offense and defense.
We also need this to farm. But it's not easy to land. So you gotta practice a little bit.
I like to max this first than Decrepify. Why? Because the cooldown is very handy. And they take atleast Full damage from it.

*Tip: Cast it while your not walking. People will notice it if you wanna try to root them.
For exampple:
Guy: Oh crap he's coming to me and tries to root me. Lightbulb above his head, I just walk circles or just back off.

(Active): Swain afflicts his target, dealing damage to them over time and causing them to take increased damage from Swain's attacks for 4 seconds. Damage increase applies to summoner spells and items used by Swain.

This is your bread and butter skill. We max this first. Because it's a great harresment tool, Nice damage.
Try to auto attk a bit when you cast it or use another ability next.So they take the extra damage. One of my favo skills in the game.

Tip: always cast this first so your next abilities will do some extra damage (as I said before)

(Toggle): Swain transforms into the form of a raven, during this time up to 3 lesser ravens strike out at nearby enemies each second, one raven per enemy. Swain is healed for half the damage dealt by the ravens.
Initial cost: 25 mana
Cooldown: 10 seconds

This makes you unstoppable in the laningphase. Transform to Raven , transform back and go back to last hit so you regenerate your mana. You can also use it to farm. Use nevermove,Transform and hoppa. A veeeery good skill.
But the downside?

It eats your mana and people can just use ignite on you so you regenrate less.

Tip* Attk the creep where the mini ravens go. You will heal more.
And spirit visage works with your ult :)

I actually like Seal of Resilience because the extra armor will help you against AD champs and your Magic Resist will help you against Casters.

Very Defensive rune page.

Skill Order

At lvl 3 you got your combo, Nevermore->Torment->Laser Bird . Try to do something with it.
Lvl your ultimate whenever you can ofcourse,

Max Q at last, You can also try to mix the lvl of Torment and Nevermove.

Orrrr

You're about to start a Lv1 fight it's maybe better to Lvl first NeverMove and Lasir bird.

Summoner Abilities

Works great with your Torment or just to make sure to kill them Use it to land your combo or just flash over walls or escape from ganks. And Flash OP

Orrr

Yeah why not? So you can pop out of nowhere for example. If you prefer ghost , that's alright It's not bad. The slow and lowering damage and Ap isn't bad at all.

You got your passive. ( Well Late game the passive sucks)
Although it's not a bad idea because your ulty is just eating your mana
Well if you got problems with mana, Take it
But Personally I think that there are better choices. If they have lots of cc,than it could be handy. Bleh you got your ultimate already, cd too long! Awfull... No explanation. Troll: Such a nice spell. Wiseman: GTFO Troll
[spell_icon=Rally] No..... Your not a Jungler!
[spell_icon=Fortify] No......

Items

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Item's were a bit confusing so I will change everything. Don't worry.

Route 1#

In now of these days you see a lot Philosopher's Stones.
And Swain also loves this. The Extra Health and Mana regenaration will help you and the gold will help you too.

Nice Defensive Items: Banshee's Veil Greaat Item, I love that bubble! Aegis of the Legion Actuelly, your teammate should have it.
[item=Force of nature] If they have a lot of magic damage =[ Thornmail If your facing a freaking Master Yi for example

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Not bad Items ( Not a big fan but maybe you are =]

EDIT: Just don't buy it. Only Burst/Nuke Damage profit of this item and Swain is moarrr an Dot Champ.

Builds

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I Prefer Rod of ages now because you don't lose the passive of catalyst if you have ROA.
And the extra mana is veery nice

Against DPS Idiots:( Thornmail) Could be handy if you're facing Yi or tryndamere For Example =]

Farming

Test Your last hit skills with Swain.
Because Swain doesn't really have a farming skill. Well not as great as Malzahar,Brand,Mordekaiser...

Later you can use Nevermove and Your ulti to farm.

Which lane to go?

Swain is a Good Solo, Duo lane. That's just awesome.
Personally, I like to go Mid or Solo Top.

If you go Duo Lane: You got some nice CC in your pocket. A slow an a root. You can make perfect combo with it.

If you go Solo Lane: You'll reach lvl 6 faster that means you got your ultimate and result of that you can stay in your lane ( Almost) forever. Swain is very good in 1v1.
Especially against melee champions.

And how about 2v1?
Not very bad but I don't recommend it.

Working on the Team

Your not a Tank so dont step into the fight first. Well you could actuelly but they could use Ignite on you and you'll die easily.

Swain is very mana hungry so grab the blue buff whenever you can.
If Anivia with blue is a hell than you didn't saw Swain with blue buff.

Try to land your nevermove Good and go for the carrys of course.
If the fight stars out, Transform into Raven and make them suffer!!.
Torment does crazy dmg at squishies.

Use your Laserbird to chase someone.

Pictures

What the Heck! It isnt done?!!

Yes it is =)

Thank You for reading my (First) Guide

I hope you enjoyed it and If you got questions for me or I made some mistakes,